Levee-builder.



D. J. LA BAUVE.

LEVEE BUILDER.

APPLICATION FILED J'AN.16, 190a.

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Patented Jan 11, 1910.

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D. J. LA BAUVE.

LEVEE BUILDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAIL 16, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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DU'GLISE J. LA BAU'VE, OF IOWA, LOUISIANA.

LEVEE-BUILDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUoLIsE J. LA BAUVE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Iowa, in the parish'of Calcasieu and State of Louisiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Levee-Builders, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to levee builders, and the invention is primarilydirected to a machine of this character which will effectively gatherthe dirt and compress the same leaving an effective sea wall over theground which the machine is caused to travel.

With the above, and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription pro gresses, the invention resides in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been illustrated a simple andpreferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withthe invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the same, the drivers seat being removed.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates the machineproper. This machine comprises essentially a pair of spaced gatheringrunners 2 and 3. The runners 2 and 3 are constructed precisely alike andthe numerals of reference applied to one of said runners may beunderstood to designate similar parts upon the oppo site runner. Therunners 2 and 3 may be constructed of wood or metal as desired, and whenconstructed of wood they are pro vided with a metallic shoe designatedby the numeral t, and clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each ofthe runners have their inner faces adjacent their outer or forward endsprovided with plates 5 having their lower edges inturned as at 6 toprovide gatherers which are adapted to gather in the dirt loosened bythe plow which is adapted to precede the levee builder.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawings the gatheringrunners are arranged at an inclination toward each other, having theirforward ends spaced a greater distance away from each other than aretheir rear ends. The numeral 6 designates the uprights arranged upon theforward end of the machine. These uprights 6 are connected with asuitable beam 7 and are securely braced through the medium of theSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 16, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Serial No. 472,656.

angularly arranged plates 8. One of the uprights 6 is provided with anL-shaped strap 9 which is rigidly secured, through the medium ofsuitable bolts to the upright 6 and has its offset portion also securelyconnected with the beam 7 The opposite upright 6 is provided with asuitable strap 10 which is rigidly secured to the said upright 6 andoverlies the beam 7. The strap 8 upon this upright 6 is connected withthe beam 7 through the medium of a removable retaining element 11, whichis adapted to engage any one of a series of transverse perforations 12provided within the said beam. By this arrangement, it will be notedthat upon removing the element 11 and positioning the same in any one ofthe spaced openings 12 the forward ends of the runners 2 and 3 may besecured at any desired distance away from each other, it beingunderstood that the beam 7 is free to slide through the loop 10.

The numeral 13 designates the uprights positioned upon the rear of therunners 2 and 3. These uprights 13 are of a lesser height than theuprights 6 and are connected directly with the said uprights 6 throughthe medium of the beams 14L. The rear uprights 13 are flexibly connectedwith each other through the medium of suitable hinged members 15, andthese hinged members have their points of pivot centrally arrangedbetween the space or opening at the rear of the runners 2 and 3.

The numeral 16 designates the inclined guiding lever for the device.This lever 16 is pivotally connected as at 17 with thehinged members 15nearest the top of the machine. The lever is extended forward of itspoint of pivot and has its extremity provided with a suitable openingadapted for the reception of a bolt 18 which is also passed throughsimilar alining openings provided in each of the beams 14. The bolt 18is provided with the usual enlarged head and has its opposite endthreaded and adapted for the reception of the usual threaded nut 19. Thebolt 18 has its extremities extending a suitable distance beyond thesides of each of the beams 14 and the portions of the bolts between theoperating lever 16 and the said beams 14 are adapted for the receptionof suitable helical springs 20. These springs 20 tend to retain thelever 16 in a direct line between the inclined beams and shoes and atthe same time also tend to force the sides of the machine away from theoperating lever and at an equal distance from each side thereof. Thenumeral 21 designates offset plates provided upon the runners 2 and 3and which are adapted to serve as a step or support for the operatorpositioned at the rear of the machine.

Secured to the forward portions of the runners 2 and 3 and projecting asuitable distance in advance thereof are attaching loops 22 adapted toserve as a means whereby draft animals may be connected with themachine, or if the machine is to be operated by steam or other power toprovide a means for connecting the device with the engine. The crossbeam 7 may also be provided with a suitable seat for the driver when themachine is operated by draft animals, and the driver may be thus sopositioned as to readily adjust the width of the opening provided by theforward portion of the machine.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be noted that I have provided an extremely simple andeffective device for the purpose intended, one wherein dirt iseffectively gathered at the forward end of the machine and passed alongthe inclined runners so as to thoroughly compress the dirt and providean effective levee. It is to be further understood that while I havedescribed the device in connection with the building of sea walls it maybe effectively employed for building other dirt walls and that while Ihave illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the device asit now appears to me, it is to be understood that minor details ofconstruction, within the scope of the following claims may be resortedto without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a machine for the purpose set forth, a pair of gathering runnersarranged at an angle with each other, the forward ends of the runnersbeing spaced farther away from each other than the rear ends of therunners, vertical uprights upon the forward ends of the runners, aconnecting beam for said uprights, means for adjusting the connectingbeam in relation to the uprights, plates having inturned edges upon thefor ward ends of the runners, uprights upon the rear ends of therunners, a hinged connection between these uprights, beams connect ingthe rear and forward uprights of the runners, abolt extending throughthe beams, an operating lever pivotally connected with one of the hingemembers and provided with an opening adapted to be engaged by the bolt,pressure springs upon the bolt between each side of the lever and theconnecting beams, and offset plates upon each of the rear ends of therunners adapted to serve as a support for the operator of the lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUCLISE J. LA BAUVE.

W. E. CLINE.

